The Norway Room
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-78125-271-0 (ISBN)
Description
Meet Ash, thirteen years old, saying goodbye to his father before he goes to serve a stretch in prison. His dad's friend Kieran helps get rid of social services and then school's out for ever. But when his father's house begins to fill with stolen goods and armed gangsters, it's easy for Ash to get into trouble. When Kieran enlists him on a job, an attempted takeover of the Norway Room club, it goes disastrously wrong. Alone in a dangerous city, Ash is forced to hide out on the Mendy Estate, in the towers and takeaways, in the back rooms where the real work of the city is planned.
Meanwhile, an ex-copper working as a bouncer for the city's busiest club gets caught in the middle of a hostile takeover and is tempted towards joining the criminal underworld. And a trained Chinese killer falls in love with his target.
As these narratives converge in a spectacular finale, who would bet against born survivor Ash, alone in the city, to do the impossible and stay alive?
Meanwhile, an ex-copper working as a bouncer for the city's busiest club gets caught in the middle of a hostile takeover and is tempted towards joining the criminal underworld. And a trained Chinese killer falls in love with his target.
As these narratives converge in a spectacular finale, who would bet against born survivor Ash, alone in the city, to do the impossible and stay alive?
Reviews / Votes
A brilliant portrait of a city on the make. He has a fine eye for human frailty, a wry compassion for the doomed and a meticulous ear for dialogue * Guardian * Clever, converging narratives ... [Scully's] gritty, urban tragedy is full of compassion and humour -- Andre Paine * Metro * A smart, gritty account of Birmingham's criminal underworld ... the most intelligent and entertaining depiction of the insidious, parasitic power of organised crime I've read for years. Scully has given us a vivid portrayal of the Birmingham tower blocks and takeaways where his cast of rogues dwells, while the Brummie accent gives it a distinctive flavour ... Scully has a talent for lively storytelling and elaborate yet clear-cut plotting. The Norway Room doesn't glorify gangsters, though it is a humorous and sympathetic portrayal of the foot soldiers toiling in the city's underbelly. Scully's villains and victims are brought to life with arresting dialogue and deft exposition, and the narratives ultimately knot together when the burgeoning rivalries reach a shocking conclusion. The Norway Room is a gripping gangland story featuring morally nuanced, memorable characters. It's a fine debut novel that would make a great film. -- Andre Paine * Crime Fiction Lover * A dark and gripping first novel -- Will Davis * Attitude * A densely plotted look at Birmingham's underclass ... Mick Scully is uncompromising in his portrayal of violence but the characters have an emotional depth and emotional insight ... His portrayal of urban criminals is worthy of Jake Arnott or Ian Rankin. -- Charlotte Eyre * We Love This Book *More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Profile Books Ltd
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-78125-271-0 (9781781252710)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Mick Scully lives in Birmingham. He has been a bouncer, teacher, acupuncturist and now works as a humanist funeral minister. His story collection Little Moscow was highly praised; The Norway Room is his debut novel.